Target carrier



March 21, 1944. F. E. McAvoY TARGET CARRIER 1 RA Y t Oc E e T m W R W m a -w A e M 2 0 4 9 l 2 L. u A d e l 1 F March 21, 1944. McAVQY 2,344,829

TARGET CARRIER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANK E. M: AVOY Patented Mu. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TARGET CARRIER Frank E. McAvoy, Teaneck, N. 1., asslgnor to General Bronze Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,705

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in target apparatus for shooting ranges and more particularly to an improved target carrier and means for controlling the operation thereof.

In a shooting range, it is desirable to have some means of moving the targets to the firing position, and for positioning a new target without the shooter having to walk onto the range to obtain the target. It has been proposed heretofore to provide a crank mechanism whereby at the end of the shooting the shooter may turn the crank, and by suitable pulleys and cords, move the target to the firing position. This is troublesome, however, in that it requires the shooter's time to operate the crank mechanism both in bringing the target to him at the shooting position and for returning a new target to the target position.

It is desirable to have the target carriers automatic in operation so that upon the initiation of a signal, the target carrier will move from target position to a firing position and automatically stop. Similarly, when sending a new target to the target position, it is desirable that the carrier should automatically stop when the target reaches the desired position. would permit the shooter to reload his gun and be engaged in other activity while the targets are being brought to and from target position. In such a mechanism, however, it is not practical to provide electric control means at the target position for stopping the target, since such electric controls are apt to be hit by bullets with resulting damage to the control, or create short circuits and fire hazards.

In accordance with my invention I have provided an automatic control of the type described above as desirable for automatically stopping the target at both firing and target positions and with all of the electric wiring, driving andcontrol means located out of the range of fire, so that it is impossible to be hit by stray bullets.

One of the objects or the present invention is to provide an improved power driven target carrier which is automatic in operation and which will automatically position the target at the desired position on the range and automatically return it to firing position. 6

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved target carrier which is electrically operated and wherein the electric motor, controls and wiring are all located well out of the line of fire and preferably near the firing position.

A further object of the invention is to provide 3 an improved target carrier and controls therefor which are relatively simple in construction and economical to install and operate.

The above and additional objects of the invention will become more apparent upon considera- Such an arrangement I tion of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view'in side elevation with parts broken away of a shooting range equipped with the improved target carrier of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a target positioning and stabilizing means with a target carriage in position thereon;

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram of the controls for the target carrier;

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section of the target stopping a stabilizing means; and

Figure 5 is a side view, partly in section of the target carrier.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a booth i0 is shown provided with a bench l2 which determines the firing position I. for the marksman. A plurality of such booths are normally arranged side by side at one end of the shooting range while target positions l6, l6a and lib are located in front of the pit it. The pit is provided with the usual back stop 20 and sand trap 260.

A carriage 2i is provided to support a target for movement on a trolley wire 22 extending between the firing and target positions. The wire 22 is suitably anchored at both ends by eyebolts 24 and maintained taut by a turnbuckle 26 connected to the wire at the booth II.

The carriage 2| comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates 28 and 29 connected by bolts III or other suitable means. Between the plates 26 and 29 are a pair of spaced apart pulley wheels 22 and 3| adapted to ride upon the wire 22. Depending from the plates 26 and 29 is a square rod 36 which is provided with a target clip 26 on the back side thereof. The rod 36 is suitably shaped at the upper end for positioning between the plates 28 and and suitably secured thereto at 39. The lower end of the rod 36 is provided with a cored hole 40 and a thumb screw 62 for fastening extension rods to fit all types of targets. In order to minimize undesirable ricochets, the carriage 2| and the equipment associated therewith are provided with surfaces so shaped that no fiat surfaces face toward the firing position.

The target carriage is provided with an eyemember M, to which suitable motivating means, such as an endless cord 46, is connected. The cord 28 is suitably supported by pulleys l1 and by a motor pulley 46 driven by a reversible motor 50. A spring 54 is provided in the connection between the cord 46 and the eye-member M to maintain the cord under tension.

Located adjacent the target and firing positions are springs 56 adapted to engage and stop the target carriage when the carriage reaches either of the positions. Located on opposite sides of the wire 22 are a pair of stabilizing bars I! and II, the forward ends Of which are bent downwardly to engage stabilizing bar It extending laterally from both sides of the carriage. This stabilising feature minimizes greatly all tendency for the carriage to swine back and forth when brought to a stop.

It i sometimes desirable to provide a stop position forward of the back stop position It. For example, where the maximum depth of the range is 150 feet, it may be desirable to have a shorter range. such as 100 or 50 feet. One or more intermediate stops may therefore be provided in association with the target carrier at positions Ito and Ilb. The intermediate stop may comprise tubular members 63 suitably mounted in bearings It on the side walls of the shootin range. Mounted on the tubular members 83 are a pair of suitably shaped rods 80 and 61 disposed on opposite sides of the wire 22. These rods when brought into target stopping position provide a cam lifting surface, similarly as in the case of the end stabilising rods 51 and 58, to engage the stabilising bars it and stop the target carriage.

The tubular members I are Provided with levers it which are connected by cables to to control levers ll located near the ilring position. Springs Ila attached to levers 68 urge the rods 88 and II into active or stabilizing position when they are not held in inactive position by the control levers II. Thus by manipulating the levers I. the marksman or range master may determine the depth of range to be used,

In order to avoid any fire hazard it is important to so arrange the electric wiring and control elements near the firing p sition and wen out or the line of firing so as to avoid injury by ricochet bullets. This briefly is accomplished by the present invention by locating the driving motor and the controls therefor, including an automatic motor deenergiaing de'vice Bl, near the firing position.

The motor deenergizing device i. is provided with a pulley 02 over which the cord 46 passes. As hereinafter described in detail, the movement of the cord upon energisation of the driving motor ll actuates the control so to maintain the motor energised during movement of the carriage from one position to the other. when the carriage reaches a position at which it is stopped, the movement of the cord is stopped, causing the pulley 48 of the motor it to slip on the cord. The stopping of the cord 48, however, stops pulley .2 of the control device 60, which thereupon effects deenergintion of the motor 50. It will thus be apparent that the control device II automatically stops the motor I. as soon as the target reaches the position desired.

'ReferrinrZto Figure 3 of the drawings, an automatic control is shown whereby the marksman may by selectively actuating push buttons FB, BB and RB located closely adjacent the firing position (Fig. 1) cause the target carriage to either move forward, stop, or move in the reverse. The control circuit for the motor 50 includes a pair of relays It and I8. The relay I6 is provided with a series of switch contacts OI to 88. The relay ll likewise comprises a series of switch contacts II to 08. Interconnecting the movable contacts of the two relays is a pivoted member I" so arranged that when one relay is energized, the open condition of the contacts of the other relay is insured.

The motor I. selected for purposes of illustrating the present invention is of the split-phase type. The main winding of the motor is indicated by the terminals T2 and TI. The auxiliary winding of the motor which determines the direction of the rotation is indicated by the terminals TI and T3. when the motor comes up to speed a centrifugal device "2 opens the circuit to the auxiliary winding.

Assuming that the forward button F3 is actuated, the relay It will be energized to start the motor to drive the carriage in a forward direction. The relay circuit is as follows: From the line LI a circuit is established through svire I, the solenoid winding 89 of relay 18, wire I 05, push button FB, push button SB and wires Ill and I" to the line L2. The energization of the relay I8 closes the switch contacts UI to II, thereby establishing motor circuits as follows: From the line LI the main motor winding is energized through wire I01, terminals T4, T2, wire Ill, relay contacts It, 82 and wire I" to the line L2. The auxiliary winding is energized by the circuit LI, relay contacts 8|, 0|, wire III, terminals TI, TI, wire III and relay contacts 81, 83, wire Ill and line L2. The closing of these circuits enersizes the motor to drive the carriage in a forward direction toward the target position It.

The initial energization of the relay It is such as to initiate rotation of the motor ill to start movement of the target carriage. The movement of the endless cord 4| at the same time revolves the pulley 62, causing rotation of the governorlike elements II! which operate to move the element Illa to the left and close. the switch III. This operation takes place almost immediately upon closing of the push button FB so that only momentary closing of the push button is necessary to effect actuation of the control I and the closing of the switch I II.

In order to maintain the relay It energized after the push button FB has been released, a holding circuit is provided through contacts 84 and II which may be traced from the line LI through wire I, solenoid ll. contacts II, II, wire II2, switch III of control device ll, wire Ilt, switch SB and wire I to the line L2.

When the target carriage reaches a stop thereby holding the cord ll from further movement, the device I! is caused to quickly decelerate to a stop whereby the elements III etfect an opening of the switch III. This breaks the circuit to the solenoid winding It, thus opening contacts l2 and 86, thereby deenergizing the motor. The governor-like elements Ill are mounted-on spring members which are extended to hold the switch II! open when the centrifugal device is not operating. Upon rotation of the device, the centrifugal force of the elements I It will cause the springs to bend and extend radially and move the element Illa to the left and close the switch Ili.

To reverse the operation of the target carriage, the push button RB is closed to energize the relay 18. This relay connects the motor across the main lines with the auxiliary winding of the motor connected in the order reverse to that effected by energization of the relay It. The reverse circuit may be traced from the lin LI through contacts 85, II, line I20, line III, terminals T2, TI, line IIO, line I22 and terminals 82, 96 to the line L2. The main winding of the motor is connected across the main lines LI and L2 in the same order as before, the contacts '2 and 01 being utilized for this purpose. The contacts ll, 88 are provided to complete the holding circuit for the relay II in the same manner as contacts 84, 88, for relay 16. The automatic operation of the control device 60 is similar in the reverse direction to that in the forward direction in that the relay I8 is deenergized when the switch I I is opened.

I: for any reason the centrifugal device ill should fail to open the switch I I5 after the target has reached the desired position, the motor 50 may be deenergized merely by pushing the push button SB which is in series with the switch I I5. In addition, if for any reason the switch H5 should become defective, so as not to close upon actuation of the starting buttons, the device may be operated by holding the buttons F3 or RB depressed until the carrier reaches the stop position.

If it is desired to position the target intermediate one 0! the stopping positions, this may be done by pressing the push button SB when the target reaches the desired position and the motor is stopped.

In the doregoing, it will be observed that the driving motor, the controlling circuits and the automatic stop switch are all located adjacent the firing position and well out of the line of fire. This safety feature of the arrangement of the improved target carrier of the present invention is highly important from a standpoint of fire protection. By the arrangement of the present invention there is no danger 01' a ricochet bullet cutting any or the electric controls or wirings and thereby causing short circuits and possibly a fire.

While I have shown and described one embodiment or the invention, it will be readily apparent that many changes and variations in structure and arrangement are possible. For example, any switch means, responsive to the motion of the cord 46, may be used instead of that shown at H8. It is therefore to be understood that the embodiment illustrated and described is intended to be illustrative of the invention only and not to limit the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In conveying apparatus operable to move a target carrier to a selected one of a plurality of positions from a firing station, a motor, a conveyor adapted to be actuated by said motor to move said carrier to each of said positions, a switch adapted to close circuit means for initiating the operation oi said motor, circuit means for maintaining said motor in operation after operation of said switch, a plurality of mechanical stop means one of which is located at each of said positions, means for selectively moving at least oneoisaidstopmcanssothatoneofthemisin.

the path oi movement ot said carrier to interrupt movement 01 said conveyor when said carrier reaches said stop means, mechanism operable to stop said motor by breaking the motor actuating circuit, said including an element responsive to interruptions in the movement of said conveyor by said stop means, and switch and motor circuit means capable oi restarting the motor and returning said carrier to the firing station, said motor. switches and circuit means being located adjacent the firing station.

2. In conveying apparatus operable to move a target carrier to a selected one ot a plurality oi positions irom a firing station. a motona convey-- said carrier to each of said positions, a switch adapted to close circuit means for initiating the operation of said motor, circuit means for maintaining said motor in operation after operation of said switch, a plurality of mechanical stop means one of which is located at each of said positions, means for selectively moving at least one oi said stop means so that one of them is in the path of movement of said carrier to .interrupt movement or said conveyor when said carrier reaches said stop means, centrifugally controlled means actuated by said conveyor to stop said motor by breaking said motor actuating circuit when movement of said conveyor is interrupted by engagement of said carrier with said stop means, and switch and motor circuit means capable of restarting the motor and returning said carrier to the firing station, said motor. switches and circuit means being located adiacent the firing station.

3. In conveying apparatus operable to move a target carrier to a selected'one of a series of positions from a firing station, a motor, a conveyor adapted to be actuated by said motor to inove said carrier to each of said positions, a pair 01' relays, a pair of switches adapted to close circuit means for energizing said relays to initiate operation oi asid motor in either forward or reverse directions, a series of mechanical stop means selectively pro- Jectable into the path oi movement of said carrier to engage said carrier during movement in forward direction and interrupt movement of said conveyor when said carrier reaches said stop means, a circuit means controlled by said relays ior maintaining said motor in operation after operation of one of, said switches, and mechanism operable to stop said motor by breaking the motor actuating circuit, said mechanism including an element responsive to interruptions in the movement of said conveyor, said switch and motor actuating circuit means capable of restarting the motor and returning said carrier to the firing station, said motor, switches and circuit means being located adjacent the firing station.

4. In conveying apparatus operable to move a target carrier to a selected one or a series of positions from a firing station. a motor, a conveyor adapted to be actuated by said motor to move said carrier to each 01 said positions, a pair or relays, a pair 01 switches adapted to close circuit means for energizing said relays to initiate operation of said motor in either forward or reverse directions. a series or mechanical stop means selectively proiectable into the path or movement of said carrier to engage said carrier during movement in forward direction and interrupt movement or said conveyor when said carrier reaches said stop means, circuit means controlled by said relays for maintaining said motor in operation after operation or one of said switches, and centrliugally controlled means actuated by said conveyorto stop said motor by breaking said motor actuating circuit when movement or said conveyor is interrupted, said switch and motor actuating circuit means capable oi restarting the motorandroturningsaidcarriertothefiring station, said motor, switches and circuit moans being located sdiaccnt tho firing station.

FRANK I. WVOY- 

